1. It’s all about layers
On a cold day, it might be tempting to throw on your thickest, warmest jacket and head out the door. But if tennis is on the schedule, it’s all about layers.
Think lightweight performance jackets that can easily come off after the first few games when enough body heat has built up, and vests that keep your core insulated from any chill while leaving the arms free for ease of motion while serving and hitting groundstrokes.
2. Materials matter
Long-sleeve and quarter-sleeve tops are a cold-weather staple because they are lightweight and easy to layer over a tank top. A thin, long-sleeve Dri-fit shirt can also serve as the ideal base layer, maintaining warmth without being too heavy as the layers start to shed.
But when staying warm is essential, the garment’s material matters, too.
Avoid cotton, and go for synthetic or performance fabrics that can wick away sweat and moisture from the body. Remember the old saying “cotton kills”? Cotton loses its ability to insulate when wet and it dries slowly, meaning that in the cold it can zap your body’s heat and lower your core temperature. When worn in layers close to the body, like T-shirts and undergarments, that frigid damp feeling can be unconfortable at best and distracting during a match.
